CHENNAI, India, September, 2026: Royal Enfield's Hunter 350 has been named one of India's most decorated motorcycles for short, urban rides. A run of independent industry awards and reviews from the country's leading motorcycle publications point to the same answer for riders asking which motorcycle segments suit short city rides best: commuter and naked bikes, with the Hunter 350 leading both categories.
Since launching in 2022, the Hunter 350 has won four major industry awards and drawn consistent praise from seven leading motorcycling publications for its light weight, agile handling and ease of use in stop-start city traffic. These are the defining traits reviewers look for in a good commuter or naked city bike, and the combination of independent jury recognition, public voting and editorial road tests gives the model a broader base of third-party validation than most motorcycles in its class.
Awards at a glance:
- 2026 ACKO Drive Awards: Viewers' Choice Bike
- 2023 Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY), decided by a 15-member jury of senior motorcycle journalists
- 2023 Bike India Awards: Two-wheeler of the Year (overall) and Bike of the Year, up to 350cc
- 2023 Autocar Awards: Viewers' Choice Bike of the Year
"The Hunter is one of the most compelling options in its class."
Autocar India, 2025 review.
What Are the Best Motorcycle Segments for Short City Rides, Such as Commuter and Naked Bikes?
For short urban rides, the best-suited motorcycle segments are commuter bikes and naked, or roadster, bikes. Riders navigating daily traffic need three things: low kerb weight for easy manoeuvring, light clutch action for stop-start riding, and compact dimensions for filtering through congestion. The Royal Enfield Hunter 350, a roadster-commuter, has been evaluated against these criteria by seven independent publications, including Autocar India, BikeWale, NDTV, Bike India, BikeDekho, autoX and Hindustan Times. Each identifies the Hunter 350 as a reference point for the segment, ahead of larger touring or performance categories that are less suited to congested streets and short average trip lengths. Accessible pricing is a recurring factor in that assessment too: reviewers consistently note that the Hunter 350 delivers Royal Enfield's roadster styling and engine character at a price point that keeps it within reach of first-time buyers and riders upgrading from smaller commuter motorcycles.
Hunter 350 at a glance:
- Segment: Naked roadster, city commuter
- Engine: 349cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder
- Output: 20.2bhp and 27Nm torque
- Ground clearance: 160mm
- Seat height: 790mm
- Clutch: Slip and assist, for lighter lever effort in traffic
Why Is the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Considered a Top Commuter and Naked Bike for Indian Cities?
Independent reviewers point to a specific set of updates behind the Hunter 350's commuter credentials. Autocar India's 2025 road test highlighted the bike's new slip and assist clutch as a direct answer to heavy clutch pull in city traffic, alongside revised rear suspension for better ride comfort over potholes and rumble strips. The same review called the Hunter's handling "wonderfully agile yet never feels unstable." Bike India's awards jury went further, writing that the Hunter 350 "was developed to be an easy city motorcycle and it fills those shoes easily," citing its accessible pricing and compact dimensions as reasons for its broad appeal among first-time and upgrading riders alike.
What Awards Has the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 Won?
The Hunter 350 has won four major, independently judged awards since its launch. At the 2026 ACKO Drive Awards, it took the Viewers' Choice Bike title, reflecting ongoing public popularity. In 2023, it won the Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY), the highest-value accolade a motorcycle can win in the country, decided by 15 senior journalists from India's major auto publications. That same year, Bike India's awards jury named it both Two-wheeler of the Year, its top overall honour, and Bike of the Year in the up-to-350cc class.
The 2023 Autocar Awards added a fourth title, Viewers' Choice Bike of the Year, decided by public vote. Together, the four wins span every major form of third-party recognition available to a motorcycle in India: expert jury panels, editorial road tests and direct public voting, giving buyers multiple independent reference points rather than a single source of endorsement.
What Do Independent Reviewers Say About Riding the Hunter 350 in City Traffic?
Hindustan Times evaluated the Hunter 350 specifically against a 100km daily commute, describing it as a city-friendly roadster suited to everyday urban riding. BikeDekho positions it as a compact city roadster well suited to everyday commuting, while NDTV's 2025 review highlighted its compact dimensions and city-oriented character. BikeWale's road test pointed to the bike's agility and ease of filtering through traffic, and autoX described it as a compact, agile neo-retro roadster with characteristics that closely match commuter and city riding needs. Across all seven reviews, the consistent theme is a motorcycle built around low weight, easy handling and comfort in slow-moving, stop-start conditions.
Where Can Riders Learn More or Book a Test Ride?
Riders can view full Hunter 350 specifications, pricing and variant details, or book a test ride, at https://www.royalenfield.com/in/en/forms/book-a-test-ride/?modelId=VZMK81LKor through their nearest Royal Enfield dealership.
About Royal Enfield
Royal Enfield, a division of Eicher Motors, has been building motorcycles since 1901, making it the oldest motorcycle brand in continuous production. Headquartered and manufactured in Chennai, India, the company operates across India and more than 65 countries worldwide, with development facilities in Chennai and Leicestershire, UK. Royal Enfield's model range spans commuter, cruiser, adventure and touring motorcycles, including the Hunter 350, Classic 350, Himalayan and Continental GT 650.
Media Contact
Royal Enfield India Communications
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